Polyantha rose plant named ‘Zlepolthree’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of polyantha rose plant, herein referred to as ‘Zlepolthree’, is provided which forms abundantly on a substantially continuous basis attractive, double purplish pink colored blossoms. Attractive, semi-glossy, medium green foliage is formed, which contrasts beautifully with the blossoms. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is very bushy and compact. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name—Rosa hybrida.

Common name—Polyantha Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination—‘Zlepolthree’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida polyantha rose plant was created during June of 1998 at Rhinelander, Wis., U.S.A., by open pollination. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) and the male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was from mixed parents of unnamed seedlings (none patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: unnamed seedling x unnamed seedling

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of polyantha rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) forms attractive, double purplish pink colored blossoms         abundantly and substantially continuously,     -   (b) exhibits a very bushy and compact growth habit,     -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (d) provides attractive ornamental semi-glossy, medium green         foliage, and     -   (e) exhibits excellent disease resistance.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from related similar non-parental varieties. For example, ‘ZLECharlie’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,456) displays single flowers, whereas the new variety displays double flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Cochranville, Pa. by a number of routes, including softwood and semi-hardwood stem cuttings. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings in Cochranville, Pa. has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Zlepolthree’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph of FIG. 1 shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of the new variety. The rose plant of the new variety illustrated herein was approximately three years of age and was observed during May of 2018 while growing on its own roots at Cochranville, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of the plant with blossoms at varying stages of opening.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2015 edition), London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The description is based on the observation of three-year-old specimens of the new variety during May while growing on their own roots and growing in containers at Cochranville, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Polyantha Rose Plant. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Very bushy and compact.         -   Height.—Approximately 40.0 cm on average in a three-gallon             container.         -   Width.—Approximately 40.0 cm on average in a three-gallon             container. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A.             Old wood: commonly near Green Group 137B.         -   Length.—Main stems: approximately 20.0 cm on average.             Secondary stems: approximately 8.0 cm on average.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 mm on average.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm on average.         -   Prickles.—Young prickles: length is approximately 3.0 mm on             average, width is approximately 2.0 mm at point of             attachment, quantity is moderate, and color is commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 145C. Old prickles: length is             approximately 3.0 mm on average, width is approximately 2.0             mm at point of attachment on average, quantity is moderate,             and color is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 177D. -   Foliage:     -   -   General appearance.—Medium green with a semi-glossy aspect.         -   Number of leaflets.—3, 5, and 7.         -   5-Leaflet leaf.—Length: approximately 8.3 cm on average.             Width: approximately 5.0 cm on average.         -   Young foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Green             Group 143A. Under surface color: commonly near Green Group             143C.         -   Old foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Green Group             137A. Under surface color: commonly near Green Group 138B. -   Leaflets:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper and under surface is smooth.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: approximately 3.2 cm on average.             Width: approximately 2.0 cm on average.         -   Lower leaflet.—Length: approximately 2.0 cm on average.             Width: approximately 1.9 cm on average.         -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.         -   Petiole.—Upper and under surfaces: color is commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 144A and texture is sparsely glandular             and moderately pubescent. Length: approximately 1.0 cm on             average. Diameter: approximately 1.0 mm on average.         -   Rachis.—Color of upper and under surfaces: commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 144A. Length: approximately 4.0 cm on             average. Diameter: approximately 1.0 mm on average.         -   Stipules.—Margin: entire to erose. Length: approximately             10.0 mm on average. Width: approximately 3.0 mm on average.             Color of upper and under surfaces: commonly near Green Group             143C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Generally about 60-70 blooms on average             on a plant at once.         -   Number of blooms per stem or in a cluster.—Generally up to             about 15 blooms per cluster.         -   Lastingness of bloom.—Approximately five days on average.         -   Bud.—Shape: round. Length: approximately 5.0 mm on average.             Width: approximately 6.0 mm on average. Color when opening:             commonly between near Red-Purple Group 73C and Red-Purple             Group 73D.         -   Sepals.—Number: commonly 5 on average. Length: approximately             6.0 mm on average. Width: approximately near 4.0 mm on             average. Margin: entire with extensions on two or three             sepals measuring approximately 2.0 mm in length on average             and 1.0 mm in width on average; undulation is moderate.             Upper surface color and texture: commonly near Green Group             138B; covered in short pubescence. Under surface color and             texture: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A; puberulent.         -   Receptacle.—Pistils stand on the bottom and wall. Color:             commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A. Diameter:             approximately 3.0 mm on average. Surface texture: smooth.             Shape: round.         -   Peduncle.—Length: approximately 1.5 cm on average. Diameter:             approximately 1.0 mm on average. Surface texture: smooth.             Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Flower.—Diameter: approximately 2.3 cm on average. Height:             approximately 1.3 cm on average. Duration: flower is on the             plant approximately 5 days. Form: double. Number of petals             under normal conditions: approximately 37 petals on average.             Shape of the petal: Overall: broadly obovate. Base: cuneate.             Apex: rounded. Petal length: approximately 1.0 cm on             average. Petal width: approximately 5.0 mm on average. Petal             margin: entire. Petal drop: good. Fragrance: none noticed.             Color when opening begins: Upper and under petals surfaces:             commonly between near Red-Purple Group 68B and near             Red-Purple Group 68C and near Yellow Group 4D at the point             of attachment. Color at end of blooming: Upper petal             surface: commonly near Red-Purple Group 69C. Under petal             surface: commonly near Red-Purple Group 69D.         -   Petaloids.—Number: approximately 8 per flower on average.             Color: upper and under surfaces are commonly between near             Red-Purple Group 63C and Red-Purple Group 63D and near             Yellow Group 4D at the point of attachment. Length:             approximately 6.0 mm on average. Width: approximately 4.0 mm             on average. Texture: smooth. Margins: variable, entire to             erose. Shape: variable, oblong and mostly curving inward;             apex is round; and base is cuneate.         -   Stamen.—Number is approximately 12 on average. Anthers:             coloration is commonly near Yellow Group 9A. Filaments:             length is approximately 1.0 mm on average and coloration is             commonly near Yellow Group 9C.         -   Pistils.—Arrangement is separate and free; number is             approximately 8 on average. Styles: length is approximately             1.0 mm on average and coloration is commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 150C. Stigmas: diameter is commonly less             than 1.0 mm and coloration is commonly near Yellow-Green             Group 150B.         -   Pollen.—None observed.         -   Hips/seeds.—None observed. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Medium green, semi-glossy, vigorous and strong.         -   Blooming.—Abundant and substantially continuous from spring             through frost, typically May to October in Southeastern             Pennsylvania.         -   USDA hardiness zone.—Zone 4-10.         -   Resistance to disease.—Excellent resistance to black spot,             rust, and powdery mildew. -   Cytology:     -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid (2n=2x=14); meristematic root tip cells in             the stage of metaphase of mitosis were observed to have 14             chromosomes under a light microscope at 400× magnification.

‘Zlepolthree’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Polyantha Rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, double purplish pink colored blossoms abundantly and substantially continuously, (b) exhibits a very bushy and compact growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) provides attractive ornamental semi-glossy, medium green foliage, and (e) exhibits excellent disease resistance; substantially as herein shown and described. 